U-2540 "Wilhelm Bauer" - a German " electroboat " type XXI times of World War II , built at the shipyard Blohm und Voss .
| U-2540 Wilhelm Bauer | |
|---|---|
| Wilhelm bauer | |
 | |
| Ship history | |
| Flag state |  Germany  |
| Launching | January 13, 1945 |
| Removed from the fleet | March 15, 1982 |
| Current status | museum since 1984 |
| Main characteristics | |
| Ship type | Big DPL |
| Project designation | XXI |
| Speed (surface) | 15.6 knots |
| Speed (underwater) | 17.2 knots |
| Working depth | 135 m |
| Crew | 57 people |
| Dimensions | |
| Displacement above the water | 1621 t |
| Underwater displacement | 1819 t |
| Power point | |
| 2 diz. / 2 + 2 ED, 4000/4400 + 226 l. with. | |
| Armament | |
| Artillery | 2x2 - 20 mm or 30 mm |
| Torpedo mine weapons | 6 bow TA 533 mm caliber, 23 torpedoes |
Service history
Under the name U-2540, the boat was accepted into service on February 24, 1945 and was assigned to the 31st training submarine flotilla . In April 1945, the boat was sent for training in Ronne . May 4, 1945 as part of Operation Regenbogen was flooded by the crew.
After 12 years, in June 1957, U-2540 was lifted, repaired and incorporated into the Bundesmarin. Under the name "Kit" (Wal), the boat first served to test new instruments and mechanisms, and on September 1, 1960, it was named " Wilhelm Bauer ", in honor of the first German submarine engineer. She served as an experimental boat (class 241) until August 28, 1968 .
With the civilian crew, Wilhelm Bauer was again commissioned on May 20, 1970 . After an underwater collision with destroyer Z3 on May 6, 1980, the boat was no longer used and March 15, 1982 was finally decommissioned and subsequently converted into a museum.
Open Air Museum
Currently, U-2540 is in the city of Bremerhaven . The boat is well equipped for visiting: for it, a special pier is built on the embankment (right under the windows of the central department store), on the port side in the hull are two lap ports for visitors (entrance on the tank, exit on the stern). Thus, visitors pass through the boat. The internal broadcast transmits combat alert signals, dive and ascent commands addressed to an imaginary crew. Hatches leading to the open deck do not open, the periscope is locked.
Ticket price - 3.5 euros. There is a store on the tank where you can buy souvenirs and books dedicated to the submarine (in several European languages).